Washing machine



C. C. LAMB.

WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 25, 1920..

Patented Jan. 17, 1922..

C. C. LAMB.

WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED ocr. 25, 1920.

Patented Jan.

UNITED STATES CHARLES CALVERT LAMB, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

WASHING MACHINE.

specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 17, 1922.

Application filed October 25, 1920. Serial No. 419,397.

To 077 whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES C. LAMB, a citizen of the United States. residing at (.hicago. in the county of Cook and State of Illinois. have invented new and useful Tmprovements in Washing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to washing Inachines and more particularly to gearing therefor. i

Among the objects of my invention 18 130 provide an improved form of gearing with clutches, so that a perforated or foramlnated clothes container may be rotated at a slow rate of speed for washing and a greater rate of speed for centrifugal wringing, the arrangement being such that the container may be rotated for wringing by throw1ng the same into clutch with the high speed gear train without lifting the container from washing position and without at any time stopping the rotation of the container.

In the accompanying dr.awings Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, with parts in section. of a washing machine constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view thereof Fig. 4 is a view looking down into the gear box. the cover thereof being removed for that purpose;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view talren through the gear box on the indirect line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 1; and

Figs. 7 and 8 are views of details of construction to be hereinafter described.

The washing machine of my invention, as shown in the drawings, has a supporting base or stand 1, made of upper and lower rectangular open frames 2, 3, connected at the four corners by angle-bars 4. The stand has casters or rollers 5 so that the machine may be rolled over the floor.

Located within and between the top and bottom frames 2, 3 is a gear box 6, substantially centrally arranged and supported by the lower frame 3 on cross-bars 7, 7, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The box 6 has a 11d 8, through which extends a vertically arranged main operating or driven shaft 9. Loose on this shaft inside of the box is a worm gear 10 in mesh with a worm 11 also in the box and fixed on a horizontally arranged shaft 12 secured b a con lin 13 t the armature shaft 14 of an 8l8( tIlC n10t0 I 15 mounted on the lower frame 3 exterior of the box, at one side thereof, as shown in the drawings. Said shaft 9, as shown in F 1g. 5, extends to and is stepped in the bottom wall 16 of the box, and fixed to said shaft adjacent its lower end are two collars 17, 17, between which are bearing balls, as shown. The lower collar is retained in an annular recess provided in the bottom wall of the box to provide a side thrust bearing for the lower end of said shaft. The lid 8 has a depending boss 18 on its under side to recelve collars with bearing balls between them to provide a side thrust bearing for the shaft 9 in the lid, as shown in said Fig. 5. The shaft 9 also extends through a bridge plate 19 in the box, extending between and secured to the side walls thereof. The worm gear 10 is supported by this plate and has its hub seated in a boss 20 projecting upward from the plate.

Splined on the shaft 9 between the lid 8 and the worm gear 10 is a clutch sleeve 21 having clutch teeth 22 to engage notches 23 1n the worm gear 10, so that the worm gear 10 may be connected to and disconnected from the shaft 9. The sleeve 21 is moved vertically into and out of clutch with the worm gear 10 by a rock shaft 24 extending into the gear box 6 through one side thereof, as shown in Fig. 4. Any suitable form of connection may be employed between the rod and sleeve for raising and lowering the same, but, as shown in Figs. 4 and 8, such connection comprises an endwise slidable bar 25 in the annular groove of the sleeve, engaged by a pin 26 fixed to a disc 27 secured to the inner end of the rock shaft 24. lVhen the shaft 24 is turned, the pin is carried with the disc and raises and lowers the sleeve, the bar sliding in the groove, as is apparent.

On the stand 1 is a tub 28 cylindric in shape, with its upper end open and its bottom wall 29 resting on the upper frame 2. The tub is removably connected with the frame by providing'the tub at its bottom with a plurality of outwardly projecting apertured lugs or ears 30 to receive upright pins 31 carried by and projecting above the top frame 2. In the center of the tub is an upright tube 32, which extends downward through the bottom wall of said tub and is secured thereto by bosses 33, 33, as shown in Fig. 7. This tube is open at .bothsends and fits over the portion of the shaft 9 which extends above the gear box. The tube 32 is stationary as the tub is held against 'rotation by its weight and the pins and lugs mentioned. The shaft 9, as shown in Fig. 6, extends above the upper end of the tube 32 and has its upper end squared, as at 34.

Located in the tub 28 is a perforated or foraminated annular container or basket 35 provided on the insidewith an upright tube 36 rigidly secured and opening downward through the bottom wall of the basket, so that the basket tube may fit over the one secured to the tub. The tube 36 extends above the top of the basket and therehas an annular block or cap 37 secured to it. This block rests on a shoulder provided on the shaft 9 by the squared upper end thereof. The block 37 has alike shaped hole to receive the squared upper end of the shaft 9 to connect the basket and shaft together, so that the shaft when rotated will turn the basket. Vertical displacement of the basketis prevented by a headed screw 38 as shwwn in Fig. 6.

The machine includes two vacuum cups or pounders 39, 39 reciprocated up and down in the basket during the washing operation and while the basket is rotated by the shaft 9. To support the pounders, I provide a.

cross-bar or plate 40, which extends across the top of the tub and rests on the upper edge thereof, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Depending from the under side of the bar 40 are two brackets 41, 41, one for each pounder. Each 'po'under is secured to the I lower end of. a-yvertical' rod'42, its upper 40 andsecured to a cross-head 43, which has end extending into'its associated bracket 41 a sliding connection with the side members of thebracket. Above theplate 40 is a horizontally arranged shaft 44 having its ends journale'd in upright standards 45, 45 on said plate. 'At each end of the shaft there is notches or recesses 54 in the end cap 37 on the tube 36, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6. This allows the shafts 9 and 50 to be readily and easily disconnected by merely lifting up the plate 40 when the pounders are to be removed from the machine, as when the basket 35 is to be run at a rapid rate of speed for centrifu alwringing. This type of connection fietween the shafts 9 and 50 also allows the same to be readily coupled together when the pounders are'placed back in the machine for washing.

To hold the plate 40 in proper position on ,the tub, I provide a plurality of downwardly extending fixed pins 55, 55 at each end of the plate to engage over the inside and outside of theupper ed e of the tub 28; as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. hese pins when vengagin the tub prevent endwise displacethe plate a resilient latch member 57 sesured to the outside of the tub below the adjacent end of the plate and adapted to enga e over or in a notch in the late.

0 much of the construction described operates as follows. Operating the motor 15 rotates the worm gear 10 and, when the sleeve 21 is moved into clutch with the worm gear, the shaft 9 is rotated and turns the basket 35 at the rate of speed-provided by the worm gear 10. The shaft 50 is drivenby the shaft 9 and the pounders 39 are re-. ciprocated upandffdown as the basket 35 is revolved. These parts are; continued in been completed. The motor'is then dis hoperationgiiifitfil]I-the F washing operation has connected fromthelshaft 9 by raisingthesleeve 21 out -o'fi-clutch with the gear wheel 10. To facilitate turning-of the rock shaft.

24, I provide anoperatinglever 58 located atone side of thej'tub 2.8 and having a length to extend to a point'above the tub and there;

having a handle to facilitate ready grasping and operating of the-lever. of the lever is fixed'to the outer end ofw-the rock shaft 24, as shown. the lever 58 is a plate 59 secured to the tub The lowerf'e'nd (lo-operating with 28 on the outside thereof. This plate has a notch intermediate its ends to receive a latch 60 carried by the lever -58:and to hold the lever in substantially upright or neutral position. In such position, the clutch sleeve 21 is out of engagement with the worm gear '10 so that .no (fower can be imparted to the shaft 9, shoul the motor be started. When the lever is moved to either. side of the neutral position, it is slightly out of vertical, and the weight of the lever holds it in that position. When the lever is at the left of its neutral position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the sleeve 21 is in clutched engagement with the gear wheel 10 and the basket 35 and pounders 39 operated for washing.

To wring the clothing in the basket 35 by centrifugal force, I provide means for rotating the basket at the high rate of speed required for that purpose. Such means. comprises a gear train as follows. In the gearbox 6 is a vertical shaft 63 having its upper and lower ends journaled in the lid 8 and bottom wall 16 of the box, respectlvely, similar to the main shaft 9. This shaft 63 also extends through the bridge plate 19, and loose on the shaft above the bridge plate is a worm pinion 64 in mesh wlth a worm 65 on the shaft 12. Fixed to the shaft 63 below the bridge plate is a gear wheel 66 in mesh with a gear pinion 67 fixed to a counter-shaft 68 extending between the bridge plate 19 and the bottom wall 16 of the box and journaled therein, as shown. Fixed on the shaft 68 below the pinion 67 is a gear wheel 69 in mesh with a gear pinion 70 fixed on the' main shaft 9. Splined on the shaft 63 above the worm pinion 64 is a clutch sleeve 71 having an annular groove engaged by a shifter yoke 72. This yoke is at the inner end of a "lever 73 pivoted at 74 between lugs 75 on the outside of the gear case 6, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The lever 73 extends outward beyond that side of the machine where the shift lever 58 is located, and said lever 58 is provided at its lower end with a fork 76 to engage the outer end of the pivoted lever 73. as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The worm pinion 64 and clutch sleeve 71 have coacting parts for clutching the two together when the sleeve 71 is moved into engagement with the worm pinion, so that the worm pinion may be connected with the shaft 63 when it is desired to rotate the basket 35 for wringing purposes. In the formshown in the drawings, this clutch construction is of the friction type and comprises a cone clutch, one part 77 of which is on the sleeve 71 and the other part 78 on the worm pinion 64.

The parts thus described operate as follows. After the clothing in the basket 35 has been washed by rotating the basket at a slow rate of speed, the faucet 79 is opened to drain the dirty water out of the tub 28.

The basket and pounders are allowed to continue to operate while the dirty water is being drained. After the tub is sufiiciently drained, the faucet is closed and clean boiling or hot water is run into the tub, the basket and pounders still kept in operation to effect a thorough rinsing of the clothes. The faucet is again opened and the rinsing water let out, thereupon the lever 56 is moved into neutral position, as shown in full lines in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. This rocks the shaft 24 and raises the sleeve 21 out of clutched engagement with the worm gear 10 to disconnect the basket and the pounders from the motor 15. Then the pounders are removed from the tub by lifting the cross plate 40 off of and clear of the tub. This lifts the stop lug or part 80 on the end of the cross-plate 40 out of the path of the lever 58, and permits said lever to be thrown into wringing position. The lever 58 is then moved from neutral position to wringing position, as shown in dotted lines at the right in Fig. 2. This action causes the lever 58 to raise the outer end of the lever 73 and throws the inner end down, carrying therewith the sleeve 71 and moving the same into frictional clutched engagement with the worm pinion 64, the motor of course being in operation. This connects the basket with the shaft 9 through the gear train between the shaft 9 and the shafts 63 and 68, to rotate the basket 35 at that high rate of speed required to throw the water out of the clothing by centrifugal force. The gear train for both washing and wringing is so arranged and constructed that the basket 35, when washing as well as wringing, is rotated in the same direction, so that the basket may be started for wringing through the slow gear train and then thrown into high speed for wringing immediately, without stopping the basket, as the basket rotating under its own momentum from washing speed avoids throwing a sudden heavy load on the motor. This permits the motor to take up its load without jar and thus pen mits it to impart a maximum speed to the shaft 9 through the gear train described in a minimum amount of time. This is also facilitated by the clutch sleeves being operated by one lever 58, as one clutch sleeve, vis throwno'ut'before the other is thrown in, and both sleeves cannot be thrown the same time.

The shaft 44 and the cranks for the pounders are all housed in a casing 81 secured on top of the cross-plate 40. This casing may be rigidly secured to the plate and be provided with a removable top or cover so that the shaft 44 and the cranks and adjacent parts may be readily reached for inspection or repair and also be placed in the casing during the initial building of the machine. Providing the stop 80 on the crossplate 40 prevents the clutch sleeve 71 from being moved into clutch with the gear pinion 64 while the pounders are in the machine. thus preventing the machine from being thrown into wringing operation until the pounders are removed.

Arranging and locating all of the members of the gear train, including the clutches for the washing and wringing operations, in a gear box, which is closed by a top plate 8, permits packing the box with grease at the initial building of the machine so that all of such parts will be maintained well and fully lubricated and thus avoids the necessity of lubricating the parts of the machine after originally built and assembled. This is a great advantage in washing machines which are designed for domestic use, as the users are not usually familiar with mechanical parts and, more than likely, prone to omit oiling of the parts due to lack of knowledge and also lack of facilities.

in at "box with the main shaft extending outward therefrom, a motor on said stand outside of said box and having its armature shaft extending into the same, a slow speed gear train and a high speed gear train, the latter including said counter-shaft, both gear trains being located in said box and each providing -a separate power transmitting connection between the armature shaft and said main shaft, a single clutch means in each gear train, the clutch means! for one gear train being mounted entirely on one of said shafts, and the clutch means for the other gear train being mounted entirely on the other of said shafts, and means for actuating said clutch means for connecting the motor with the main shaft through. either gear train.

2. In combination in a gearing of the character described, a supporting stand, a gear box on said stand, a main driven shaft and a counter-shaft, both journaled in said box with the main shaft extending outward therefrom, a motor on said stand outside of said box and havingits armature shaft extending into the same, a slow speed gear train and a high speed gear train, the latter including said counter-shaft, both gear trains being located in said box and each providing a separate power transmitting connection between the armature shaft and said main shaft, a single clutch means in each gear train, the clutch meansfor one gear train being mounted entirely on one of said shafts, and the clutch means for the other gear train being mounted entirely on the other of said shafts, and means operable from the outside of said gear box for actuating said clutch means for connecting the motor with the main shaft through either gear'train,

and-constructed so that when one clutch means is in clutched enga ement with its gear train the other clutc means is prevented from being moved into clutched engagement with its gear train.

3. In combination in a gearing of the.

character described, a supporting stand, a gear box on said stand, a main driven shaft and a counter-shaft, both journaled in said box with the main shaft extending outward therefrom, a motor on i 5* f said box and having itsarmature shaft extending into the same, a slow speed gear train and a high speed gear train, the latter including said counter-shaft, both gear trains being located in said box and each providing a separate power transmitting connection between the armature shaft and said main shaft, a single clutch means in each gear train, the clutch means for one gear train being mounted entirely on one of said shafts, and the clutch means for the other gear train being mountedsgntirely on the other of said shafts, a single lever outside of said gear box for actuating both clutchmeans for connecting the motor with the main shaft through either of said gear trains, and means connecting said lever with said clutch means in a manner causing the lever when moved out of neutral posltlon to throw only one clutch means into clutchedv engagement with its associated gear train.

4. In combination in a gearing of the character described, a supporting stand, a gearbox on said stand, a main driven shaft and a counter-shaft, both journaled in said box with the main shaft extending outward therefrom, a motor on said stand at one side of said box and having its armature shaft extending into the same, a slow speed gear train and a high speed gear train, the latter including said counter-shaft, both gear trains being located in said box and each providing a separate power transmitting connection between the armature shaft and said main shaft, a single clutch means in each gear train, said clutch means being of the friction cone type, the clutch means for one gear train being mounted entirely on one of said shafts, and the clutch means for the other gear train being mounted entirely on the other of said shafts, and a single lever outside of said box for actuating said clutch means for connecting the motor with said main shaft through either gear train.

- 5.. In combination in a gearing of the character described, a main driven shaft, a second driven shaft, a worm gearloose on each of said shafts, a worm meshing with each of said worm gears, a motor for driving said worms simultaneously and in the same direction, a high speed gear train connecting the second shaft with said main shaft,

a shiftable clutch member splined on each of said main and second shafts and adapted to be moved into and out of clutched engagement with the worm ear thereon, and means for shifting said 0 utch members.

6. In-combination in a gearing of the character described, a main driven shaft, a second driven shaft, a worm gear loose on each of'said shafts, a worm meshing with each of said worm gears, a motor for driving said worms simultaneously and in the same direction, a third shaft, meshing high speed gear wheels fixed on said main, second and third shafts, a shiftable clutch member splined on each of said main and second shafts and adapted to be moved into and out of clutched engagement with the worm gears thereon, and'means for shifting said clutch members.

7 In; combination in a gearing of the character described, a supporting stand, a *gear box on said stand having a cover, a main driven shaft journaled in said box and extending outward through said cover, a motor on said stand outside of said box and having its armature shaft extending into the same, a slow speed gear train and a high speed gear train, both located in said box and each providing a separate power transmitting connection between the armature shaft and said main shaft for enabling the motor to rotate said main shaft either at a slow or high speed and in the same direction, two shiftable clutch members in said box, one in each gear train, for connecting the armature shaft with said main shaft through'either gear train, a rock-shaft and a pivoted lever, both extending into said box and connected, respectively, with said clutch members, and a single lever outside of said box and connected with said rock shaft and said pivoted lever for moving the same simultaneously.

8. In combination in a gearing of the, character described, a supporting stand, a gear box on said stand and having a cover, a main driven shaft journaled in said box and extending outward through said cover, a motor on said stand outside of said box and having its armature shaft extending into the same, a second shaft journaled in said box and arranged substantially parallel to the main shaft, a worm gear loose on each of said main and second shafts, a third shaft in said .box, arranged transverse to said other shafts and coupled to said armature shaft, two worms fixed on said third shaft and meshing one with each of said worm gears, a high speed gear train connecting said second shaft with said main shaft, a shiftable clutch member splined on each of said main and second shafts and adapted to be moved into and out of clutched engagement with the worm gear thereon, and a lever outside -of said box and connected with said clutch members for shifting the same.

9. In combination in a gearing of the character described, a supporting stand, a gear box on said stand and having a cover, a bridge plate fixed in said box, a main driven shaft journaled in said box and extending through said bridge plate and projecting outward through said cover, a second shaft journaled in said box substantially parallel to said main shaft and extending through said platqa motor on said stand outside of said ox and having its armature shaft extending into the same, a worm gear loose on each of said main and second shafts and supported by said bridge plate, a third shaft in said box transverse to the other shafts and coupled to said armature shaft, two worms fixed on said third shaft and meshing one with each worm gear, meshing high speed gear wheels in said box below said plate and connecting the main shaft to said second sha ft, a clutch member splined on each of said main and second shafts and adapted to be moved into and out of clutched engagement with the worm gear loose thereon, and a lever located outside of said box and connected with both of said clutch members for shifting the same.

10. In a gearing of the character described, a supporting stand, a gear box on said stand, a main driven shaft journaled in said-box and projecting upward therefrom, a motor on said stand outside of said box and having its armature shaft extended into the same, a slow speed gear train and a high speed gear train, both located in said box and providing a separate power transmitting connection between said armature shaft and said main shaft for enabling said motor to rotate said main shaft at either a slow or high speed, a shiftable clutch member in each gear train for connecting the motor with said main shaft through either gear train, means outside of said box and connected with said clutch members for moving the same into and out of clutched engagement with their associated gear trains, a counter-shaft supported above said stand, vertically arranged rods between said counter-shaft and said stand, means connecting the upper ends of said rods with said counter-shaft for reciprocating said rods, and a power transmitting connection between said main shaft and said counter-shaft.

11. In a gearing of the character described, a supporting stand, a gear box on said stand, a main driven shaft journaled in said box and projecting upward therefrom, a motor on said stand outside of said box and having its armature shaft extended into the same, a slow speed gear train and a high speed gear train, both lo- 'cated in said box and providing a separate power transmitting connection between said armature shaft and said main shaft for enabling said motor to rotate said main shaft at either a slow or high speed, a shiftable clutch member in each gear train for connecting the motor with said main shaft through either gear train, means outside of said box and connected with said clutch members for moving the same into and out of clutched engagement with their associated gear trains, a counter-shaft supported above said stand, a vertically armeshing gear wheels, one on said 'counterrangedv rod between said counter-shaft and shaft and one on said vertical shaft. said stand, a crank arm secured to said coun- In testimony that I claim the foregoing 10 ter-shaft and connected'with theupper end as my invention, I aflix my signature this 5 of said rod, a vertically arranged shaft be- 20th day of October, A. D. 1920. I

low said counter-shaft and having detach able connection with said main shaft, and CHARLES CALVERT LAMB. 

